Kelsey Brooks - Supernatural

I found it interesting in the article, The Concept of Supernatural in Primal Religions, that religion could not be defined without the term 'supernatural'. Supernatural is a key concept in defining the term religion. This was interesting to learn because when I think of 'supernatural' I think of bad, ghostly, things and not religion. I have a hard time relating the world 'supernatural' to a religion. In future years, I would like to explore this concept more and see what other people have to say other than the Professor that wrote the article.

Kelsey Brooks - Symbolism of the 'Centre'

While reading Images and Symbols by Mircea Eliade, I found it interesting to learn the symbolism of the 'centre'. The most widely distributed variant of the symbolism is the Cosmic Tree. It is situated in the middle of the Universe. The 'primitive' religions along with many others held different versions of the Cosmic Tree. It was interesting to learn the different meanings behind what each religion held for the purpose of the Cosmic Tree. One religion said the roots were in Hell. This was an interesting symbol because it is like the tree started in Hell, but then began to grow and expanded into the Heavens. I pondered a lot of thoughts on the many different symbols of the Cosmic Tree.

Kelsey Brooks - Fate

In the book 'Oral tradition as History', describes that in Rundi oral traditions and their perception on the future, it always comes true. They call this fate. This is put into an "ultimate reality." This is the reality that includes religion and the unseen along with the visible world. This was interesting to read because in order to have fate, one must believe. This can teach a lot of people that belief of a higher power can lead to greater things. Some people might have a hard time believing in something, but with faith it is possible. There is always something greater to what is unseen to the eye.

Kelsey Brooks - Storytelling

I was researching different oral traditions and came across African Storytelling. This was a very interesting topic because it was part of the African tradition. Most Africans today are still primal peoples. It was interesting to learn they still try to carry out traditions to this day. They are more "in touch" with nature than we as Americans can be. It seems Africans have more respect and represent their country well. Africans still tell different stories from generation to generation.

Kelsey Brooks-Religious Growth

In The Ritual Process by Victor Turner, I thought it was interesting about religious growth. Turner states that religion deals largely with the imaginative and emotional nature, and consequently with uncertain elements of knowledge. In order to believe in a higher power, we must think beyond ourselves. We must also connect with a higher power in an emotional state. For example, Christians pray to God to "connect" with him and try to feel that emotional presence. We must imagine Him in existence and perceive what we feel is reality.

Katrina Thralls-Religion throughout my Day

It fascinated me to learn that most primal cultures don’t think of “religion” the same way we do. It isn’t an aspect of their lives, but infused into every aspect of their lives. So today, I tried to infuse my spirituality into every moment of the day, no matter what I was doing.

I started off eating my breakfast. Knowing that it all comes from the Earth, I thought a few words of gratitude for not only the wheat that made the bread, the chickens who laid the eggs, and the cow that gave the milk, but to the farmers who harvested the ingredients, and everyone along the way that helped get it to me this morning so that I could be nourished.

Next, I took my medication, and I realized that I was ingesting not only the helpful ingredients, but the work of people gathering ingredients, people working for years to find the right combinations, and people working with me to give me what I need.

Next, I got on my computer to do some work, and instantly got on the internet. Suddenly I was privy to almost any information I could possibly want, but more importantly, I was connected to everyone else in the world that was at that moment on the internet. We could look at the same pages, talk to the same people, and feel the same things as we watch human experiences unfold.

It’s only midday, and already I feel a connection to everyone on the planet. It’s amazing what a little awareness can do.

Katrina Thralls-Christianity without Writing

If Christianity were to exist without a system of writing, it would look very different than it does today. The most obvious reason is the lack of a Bible. There could be some of the same Old or New Testament, but it would be held within people, trained to recite the stories of the Bible. This may shift the religion from having so many who follow the Bible as a strict, literal set of rules to having more who follow the stories as allegory used to show moral guidelines and the love of God. The Bible would probably no longer be the ultimate authority. Either there would be something like the Pope or a shaman, where you would have a religious leader to be the authority, or the individual would be the authority, accountable directly to God. Of course, there would also not be the incredible theological library to study the faith, which I think is a necessary part of human nature.